International Officina for the Culture of Dialogue
What is the Officina & the 2027 Edition
Officina is not just a concept — it is a space you can step into.
The Italian word officina means “workshop” or “laboratory”: a place where things happen, where experiences are shared, tested, and transformed into something meaningful. This is exactly what Officina is designed to be — a permanent, open laboratory focused on World Heritage Sites and territories rich in cultural and natural value.
Here, culture, science and education are not abstract ideas, but tools you can actively use to build peace, foster social and environmental sustainability, and strengthen inclusive and resilient communities.
In 2027 the first Internation Officina will be held in Florence (11-12 March) — a moment where practices, perspectives and people come together to shape a shared process.
You are invited not only to take part, but to understand how your experience can contribute.
We are looking for initiatives that respond to today’s challenges — from overtourism to community disengagement — by generating shared value and actively involving local communities.
Your practice can become part of a collective effort to collect, share and amplify international experiences aligned with the Heritage for Building Peace 2025 Appeal.
Local Officine: An Hub-and-Spoke Model
Every community can become an Officina. Every territory can activate its own space for dialogue and action.
The 2027 edition in Florence is the starting point of this international network.
Through a hub-and-spoke model, local Officine (the spokes) connect to the International Officina in Florence (the hub), creating a system of shared practices, exchange and collaboration.
These are not spaces for reflection alone, but for action.
Wherever you are, you can be part of this process — by contributing your experience, activating your territory, or joining the first edition in Florence. The Foundation supports you by providing a shared methodology, international visibility and opportunities for exchange and collaboration.
The Foundation and the "industry of Peace"
Behind Officina, there is a space that is already active — and that you can connect with.
The Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco – Life Beyond Tourism acts as a bridge between theory and practice. Rooted in the real experience of hospitality, it offers a concrete environment where ideas from different cultures meet, are tested, and evolve into shared knowledge.
From Florence, the Foundation promotes and renews the Heritage for Building Peace 2025 Appeal, inviting communities, institutions and businesses to adopt the Culture of Dialogue as a daily practice.
By taking part, you contribute to building what we call an “Industry of Peace”: a network of skills, relationships and practices where dialogue between cultures generates real social and economic value.
Young People as Drivers of Dialogue
A central role in this process is entrusted to young people.
Students, emerging professionals and young practitioners are not just participants — they are active contributors and promoters of dialogue. Their ability to move across cultures, question assumptions and experiment with new approaches makes them essential in shaping more inclusive and conscious forms of development.
Through Officina, young people are encouraged to engage directly with territories, communities and heritage, contributing to the creation of shared value — not only cultural and social, but also economic.
Their involvement is key to building an ecosystem where dialogue becomes a concrete driver for sustainable growth and innovation.